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Edmen
Shahbazyan’s hype train came crashing back to reality at
UFC Fight Night 173.
The previously unbeaten middleweight prospect wilted under the
wrestling and pressure of Derek
Brunson, losing via technical knockout 26 seconds into the
third round of their headlining clash at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas
on Saturday night.
The 22-year-old Glendale Fighting Club representative had a solid
opening stanza, but things went downhill once he went past the
first round for only the second time in his professional career.
After opening his UFC career with four straight triumphs —
including three first-round finishes, Shahbazyan is taking the
setback in stride.
“I’m OK everyone just need some stitches,” Shahbazyan wrote on
social media. “Thank you for all your messages, love you all!
Congrats to [Derek
Brunson] tonight he did a great job. No excuses, it’s the fight
game and I’ll be back! Blessed to have the support I have from
everyone!”
Brunson, who earned his third consecutive victory at Shahbazyan’s
expense, responded with words of support.
“Thanks for the fight young man,” Brunson wrote on Twitter. “You’ll
be back! Blessings.”
An alum of Dana White’s Contender Series, Shahbazyan is 11-1 during
his professional tenure and owns wins over Darren
Stewart, Charles
Byrd, Jack
Marshman and Brad
Tavares.